Trincomalee to get fresh development boost

Sri Lanka’s regional industry sector is to get a new boost as a new approach to their development is being worked out. “The regional industrial zone development will continue as we now move to stage two of the Trincomalee Industrial Estate,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen adding, “I am pleased to announce that already factory locations in Trinco II have been allocated to two industries, one being an apparel manufacturer.”

Minister Bathiudeen announced this when he chaired the first Regional Industrial Development Progress Review for Y 2012 of his Ministry. Directors representing the regional industrial centres of Kandy, Trincomalee, Galle, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and Ratnapura took part to update Minister Bathiudeen.

On a proposal made by the Minister, Cabinet approved the Trincomalee Industrial Estate’s Stage II in August 2011 where a proper garbage disposal system, waste water treatment facilities, roadways and other common amenities will be done at a cost of Rs. 256 million for its 24 acres (Under Stage I of the project, 25 acres of land was developed with the necessary infrastructure required for the industries including 6 model factory buildings. Fourteen industrialists were selected to cover the entire developed area under stage I, by the Regional Industrial Service Committee of the Eastern Province).

“I am also planning to do on-site, B2B style meetings with Industrial Zone investors in all the zones across the country. These meetings will focus on investors’ immediate operational problems as well as long term sustainability issues where we need to assist them. The B2B style meets will also be a channel to gather in-depth information on infrastructure and industry issues of the Zones,” Minister Bathiudeen said. He added and requested the regional Directors to begin working with a broader view.

“I want you all to start assisting the regional industries in a much wider scale, going beyond the boundaries of industrial zones. We cannot expect to develop industries by focusing only on selected aspects. The Divineguma program by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa opens new avenues for us to assist micro scale domestic industries so that the Industry Ministry can join in upgrading the rural population as well,” Minister Barthiudeen added.

Also present during the session were Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce Tilak Collure, Additional Secretary – Regional Industry Development W.D. Jayasinghe and Deputy Director of Commerce Kosala Godawita.